'Backed by much of the mass media, the Tory government is pulling out all the stops to switch the political agenda from Britain's social crisis to one of Russia aggression and loyalty tests', John Foster told the Communist Party's executive committee at the weekend.

'In Italy as in Germany, France, Austria, Spain and the Netherlands, traditionally strong social-democratic parties have suffered historic defeats in elections', John Foster told the Communist Party of Britain's political committee on Wednesday evening.

We stand in solidarity with Iranian people, and against any foreign intervention in the internal affairs of Iran

The Communist and Workers’ parties that sign this statement have followed with concern the recent developments in Iran where tens of thousands of people in many towns and cities across Iran protested against the policies of the autocratic regime.

The Communist Party of Britain strongly condemns the mass arrests in Iran, now estimated at over 2,000, and expresses grave concern at the reported torture of detainees. The party’s general secretary Rob Griffiths has lodged an official protest with the UK Representative of the Islamic Republic. The British party sends its solidarity to the Tudeh Party of Iran, the country’s party of working people.